[Glucagon secretion in several endocrine diseases]

The authors examined 48 patients with different endocrine pathology (relatives of patients with diabetes mellitus with a normal glucose tolerance test, patients with diabetes mellitus, obesity, thyrotoxicosis, and hypothyroidism) and a group of healthy persons. Blood glucagon concentration was determined radioimmunologically on fasting stomach and against the background of insulin hypoglycemia. A marked reduction of glucagon on fasting stomach was noted in patients with diabetes mellitus, and a reduction of the hormone concentration 30 and 60 min after the insulin injection. In obese patients and relatives of diabetic patients the initial blood glucagon level was not different from that in healthy persons. At the same time there was a significant reduction, and in relatives of diabetes patients also a retardation of glucagon secretion against the background of insulin hypoglycemia. The pattern of glucagon secretion in thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism proved to be changed.